Improvement in combined suspender and shoulder-braces



THOMAS O. POTTER JOSEPH W. SMITH Imprbvement in Combined Suspender and ShouIder-Brac N0. 116,093, I .Patentedlune 20,1871.

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HOMAS 0. POTTER AND JOSEPH WILLIAM SMITH, OF BOSTON, MASS.

IMPROVEMENT INCOIVLBINED S USPENDER AND SHOULDER-BRACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 1b,09 3, dated :Iune 20, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS 0. POTTER and JOSEPH WILLIAM SMITH, both of Boston,- in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a Suspender and Shoulde'r-Brace combined, of which the followingis are, respectively, properly secured to the dorsal-strap, and one of which is properly secured .to each of the shoulder-straps. We prefer to make the straps D and D adjustable as to length, as thereby the bracing effect can be increased or diminished. This may be effect ed as shown,.or by attaching a buckle on each side of the dorsal-strap, and passing the ends of the straps D D each through its buckle, or in many other ways. We also prefer to make the connection between the straps D D and the shoulderstraps adjustable, so that the connecting point can be shifted to suit the wearer; and this we regard as a novel feature, althoughone of the minor points of our invention. We also prefer to connect the straps D and D with the shoulder-straps and with the dorsal-strap by means of our slide and loop combined, as they can then be readily disconnected and reattached. When disconnected, the straps A, A, and B constitute a popular form of suspender, and when-reattached the whole forms a novel and very excellent shoulder-brace and Suspender combined; and this, also, we regard as new and as an important part of our invention. It is obvious, also, that we can supply the trade with the straps D D properly secured to the devices E and F, which can be applied at pleasure to any Suspender consisting of two shoulder-straps united to a single dorsal-strap. The devic'e'F- consists of a loop united to a slide, and forms a very compact device by which a'strap can be adjustably connected at any desired angle with another strap. The device E does not differ from F, except that a secondloop is attached to the slide in order to admit of a second strap being adjustably connected to the strap which passes through the slide portion of the device.

We are aware that a Suspender, and brace combined, consisting of a dorsal-strap and two shoulder-straps united together at (J, substantially as is ours, are old and well known, but in all of them the other ends of the shoulderstraps are always united, either to the dorsalstrap or to the connection C, so as to form shoulder-loops, to which theshort buttoningstraps are secured in various ways.

.We disclaim, therefore, any form of shoulder-brace and suspender combined in which the front ends of the shoulder-straps A A are not free.

It is obvious, also, from what we before stated, that we do not claim a Suspender consisting of the straps A, A, and B united at 0.

What we do claim is 1, A Suspender and shoulder -brace combined, consisting of the shoulder-straps A A and the dorsal-strapB, and the connectingstraps D D, when the front ends of the shoulder-straps are free and when the dorsal-strap is connected to each of the shoulder-straps at O, and also by means of connecting-straps D D, the'whole being substantially as described.

2. The combination'of the shoulder-straps A A and dorsal-strap B (when united together at O) with the connecting-straps D D and their attachments E F F, whether these con necting-straps be adjustable or not, the whole arranged and operating substantially as described.

THOMAS 0. POTTER.

Witnessesr JOSEPH W. SMITH.

OSCAR P. GI'IINN, GEORGE O. FITz. 

